LeBron and Jesus

While I was watching LeBron James, arguably the best basketball player in the world, single-handedly (in the most literal since) defeat the Detroit Pistons in Thursday night's Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, I couldn't help but be amazed. I also couldn't help thinking about Jesus. No, honestly.

I watched, mouth agape, the young wonder hit shot after shot--some fading away, or over three defenders, while getting hacked across the arms, or poked in the eye, you name it. I stared in disbelief as he picked apart the best defense in the NBA, scoring 29 of his team's last 30 points, willing his team to a win in double overtime. I shook my head as he drove past a usually staunch defender in Chauncey Billups, vaulted over and through a burly Jason Maxiell, and a long, shot-blocking specialist, Tayshaun Prince, and flipped in a game-winning layup with two seconds left. Everyone knew he was going to take the last shot, yet no one, not even three of Detroit's best defenders could stop him.

Even though the game was in Detroit, not Cleveland, I could still see some LeBron fans in the crowd sporting his "Witness" t-shirts. This slogan comes from one of LeBron's most popular Nike commercials, in which local Cavalier fans repeat the mantra, "We are all witnesses," as highlights from his various fantastic feats, like one's from Thursday's game, flash in between. These fans declare we are all witnesses to LeBron's grace, his raw power, his unquenchable passion, and his ability to put an entire team on his back and carry them to victory. We are witnesses to his basketball talent, and the fact that he's doing things no other player has ever done, all at such a young age.

What does this have to do with Jesus? Well, in the second book of Acts, the Holy Spirit comes down upon Jerusalem at the time of Pentecost, enabling Peter and other disciples the ability to speak in the many tongues represented by the Jews who had gathered there--Jews from "every nation under heaven." Many of these Jews, representing many nations, were "amazed and perplexed" at what was transpiring. Others claimed Peter and the others were drunk, the only possible explanation. "Surely this isn't really happening. They can't possibly speak every language. That defies all logic," they must have been thinking.

Peter claims this is not the case, however. "It's only nine in the morning," he explains. He continues to describe the past actions of Jesus, the Christ; he performed "miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know." And that "This man was handed over to you...and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him."

Peter is setting a precedence here. He is saying, "Guys, remember Jesus? He healed the sick, made the blind see, the lame walk, and raised the dead, and He himself could not be defeated by death. You were all witnesses to this. Why do you not believe in God's ability to perform miracles?"

Witnessing LeBron's ballet-like moves and gravity-defying stunts on a basketball floor pales in comparison to the acts of Christ I continually see in my life. Like a family shocked by the overnight disappearance of cancer that had once riddled the body of their infant daughter. Or the simple delivery of a forgotten paycheck into the mailbox of a broke college student, just days before his tuition bill became due. Or even the joy on the face of a mentally challenged young woman, praising His name with all her capacities, even though those capacities are limited.

Even though I am a sinner, and daily nail Christ to the cross, I can be redeemed because of His power over death, His grace and His love, yes, but also because I am a witness to that power, grace and love.

So I guess you can say, "We are all witnesses." Acts 2:32 did.

There you go, from King James to the King of Kings. I know it's a stretch, but go with it.